The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-03-30
The Battle of Pittsburgh.

Mr.. Editor On the 18th of September, 1914,
was fought on Lake Champain the memoir
able battle of Pittsburgh between the
American forces on the lake and troops near
Plattsburgh and the British forces from
Canada. The writer was then six years old
but well remembers the stirring news of the
times and that his father was one that took
an active share in the military part of the
work against the British invaders, so the
following account may be taken as correct,
as the writer has heard it related many
times long years ago. For some time preVi-
Gus to the event rumors were current that
the British troops were about to enter north
ern New York near Pittsburgh in connec-
ton with their forces on the water in the
lower part of Lake Champlain. About a
week before the 18th the expresses were
sent among the Green Mountain boys to
rally their forces, as the invaders were
already across the line and nearing our
forces stationed at Plattsburgh Volunteers
were rushing from all towns towards the
scene of conflict. Companies were being
formed and officered at Montpelier as fast as
men arrived in town. The writer's father
was enrolled in the Randolph company, of
which Lebbeus Edgerton was chosen cap
tain, with other necessary officers. The
captain was very efficient man, and some
seventeen years later was elected lieuten-
ant-governor of the state, and still later
superintended the building of the state
panies were ready they moved forward to
Burlington, mostly on horseback, as at that
time there was no public conveyance of
much account. The American fleet (under
Commodore Mcponough) of four vessels
and ten gunboats, carrying in all eighty
six guns and eight hundred twenty
men, was in position in Pittsburgh
bay. The squadron, in command of
Commodore Downie had four vessels
and thirteen gunboats, carrying in all
ninety-five guns and one thousand fifty
men. They moved up and attacked
the 18th. They fought with great bravery
for two hours and twenty minutes, when
the British commodore was struck by part
of a mast torn by a cannon-ball and in
stantly killed. His whole force being de-
moralized without their leader, surrendered
everything Internationally. They lost
eighty-four killed and one hundred sixteen
wounded. The Americans lost tfty-two
killed and tifty-eight wounded. For some
of the figures and statistics of the forces
engaged reference is had to Thompson's
Gazetteer of Vermont. The batteries Of the
enemy on the land were using every effort
to cross the Saranac river in the village, but
were kept back by the destructive fire from
the American defences and by attacks from
every possible point The planks of the
bridge were taken up and cannon placed
at every string-piece, and as fast as they
were swept into the river, till the waters
were red with blood.
AS the volunteer companies were going
forward near Williston they began TO hear
the cannon of the broadsides of the fight on
the lake. AT Burlington every conveyance
was on the other side, so the troops for the
time-being were quartered in the old college
on the hill till passage across could be OBJ
tanned. From the cupola of the college the
British fleet was in plain sight, but the
American was lying beyond an island. The
smoke from each broadsde rose like a
mighty cloud at every discharge. When
the firing ceased every one knew the battle
was over, but no one could tell which side
had been victorious, although one man with
good glass was sure he saw the British flag
hauled down, which proved to be true. Near
daylight next morning they were all
aroused and told the good news-that the
British fleet was all captured, but their land
forces were yet to be driven off, During the
day conveyance was had for all that wished
to 90 in pursuit of the land forces across the
line, as the British had the good sense to
start for home soon after the defeat ON the
water, showing that they believed in the
words Of the song, that they had got " too
far from Canada" A few of the gunboats
escaped, but nearly everything fell into the
hands of the Americans. The land forces
left all their dead and wounded and stores
of every kind, with large number of pris-
oners, in order to secure rapid flight into
their own territory. The war of 1912, as it
was called, was closed soon after this time,
treaties of peace being signed the oath of
December following.
STILLMAN RUGGLEs.
Boston, March 26, 1887